Rock Sweep: February 16, 2013...

Welcome back to the second installment of today's "chart sweeps" where I sample the new songs making their way on to the weekly music charts in Billboard magazine, and this time out I've got the latest on rock radio.


On the aggregate Rock Airplay chart (which apparently they haven't figured out how to get their act together with, ahem), Muse reigns for a ninth non-consecutive week at #1 with "Madness"...

Massachusetts indie-dance-rockers Passion Pit debut at #45 with the second single from their sophomore album Gossamer, "Carried Away". This clip takes the Pop Rocks urban myth and multiplies it by 100. Grade: B+

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The other new entry on the list is by the "supergroup" of Corey Taylor (of Stone Sour/Slipknot), Dave Grohl (of Foo Fighters), Rick Nielsen (of Cheap Trick) and Scott Reeder (of Kyuss) on "From Can to Can't" from their Sound City: Reel To Real documentary.

Meanwhile, over on the Modern Rock/Alternative radio format, "Madness" remains on top for an 18th week, tying with the Foo Fighters' "The Pretender" for most weeks on top...

The sole debut here at #39 is Canadian band Three Days Grace's followup to their top-10 hit "Chalk Outline", "The High Road". It's already in the top-20 on the Mainstream and Active rock formats. Grade: C+

On the Mainstream Rock chart, All That Remains jumps to #1 with "Stand Up", their first song to reach the top.

Los Angeles hard rock group In This Moment leap in at #34 with "Adrenalize", the second single from their Blood album. It's already moving up on the Active Rock chart, where it entered last week. Grade: B-

Another California act, glam-metal band Black Veil Brides, stomp in at #39 with "In The End". They previously made the top-30 here with "The Legacy" in 2011. Grade: C+

Green Day now have a hit from each of their numbered albums from the past year as "X-Kid" from Tre! enters at #40. Grade: B

At the Triple-A (adult album alternative, or "hipster rock") radio, the Lumineers' "Stubborn Love" remains on top for a sixth non-consecutive week...

The highest debut this week is by Las Vegas rock group Imagine Dragons, whose "It's Time" reached #2 on this chart. They return at #25 with "Demons". Grade: B+

Tristan Prettyman also follows up a top-5 hit on this format (in this case, "My Oh My") with "Say Anything" at #28. This sweet break-up track (probably about former boyfriend Jason Mraz) is my pick of the week. Grade: A-

The Voice finalist from season one Vicci Martinez joins her mentor Cee-Lo Green at #29 with "Come Along". Grade: B+

The last entry on the Triple-A list at #30 is my personal pick for New Artist Grammy, Alabama Shakes, with "Hang Loose". Their "Hold On" also reached the top-5 on this chart last year. Grade: B

Across at the harder-edged "Active Rock" chart, All That Remains climbs to #1 with "Stand Up", as the aforementioned "X-Kid" and "In The End" debut at #37 and #38 respectively...

The other debut at #40 is "Wish You Well", from the band led and named for guitarist Mark Tremonti of Creed and Alter Bridge. He wrote this song when he as thirteen years old. Grade: B-

Finally, on the Heritage Rock format, Three Days Grace's ""Chalk Outline" hangs around at #1 for a 15th non-consecutive week...

 The only song debuting here at #24 is by Big Wreck, a Boston-based band led by Canadian Ian Thornley, with "Albatross", a song that topped the rock chart in Ian's home country. Grade: B

That's a wrap for this week's rock recap...I'll be back in an hour and a half with the latest on R&B radio. Rock On!